Bella Mysell (born Bella Meisel; April 5, 1902 - January 17, 1991) was an influential American figure on the Yiddish stage, known for her work as an

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

and

lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income ...

Early life

Bella Mysell was born on April 5, 1902, in New York. Her foray into the arts was significantly shaped by her father, Hyman Meisel, an established actor. She attended a public school, learned Yiddish in a cheder and studied singing, playing the piano, mandolin and guitar. Her early exposure to music and performance arts, including her proficiency in various instruments and vocals, laid the foundation for her eventual ascent into the theater world. At thirteen years of age, she performed together with her father. Mysell used to sing solo and with accompaniment.

Career

Mysell's professional career was marked by her engagement as a prima donna at the National Theatre in New York in 1926. Her debut in Lash-Sandler's operetta ''Mendl in Japan'' was just the beginning of a vibrant period that saw her performing in various esteemed theaters. During the 1930–31 season, she acted at the Prospect Theatre, and in 1932-33 she performed at the Hopkinson Theatre. Mysell was a member of The Hebrew Actors' Union.

Notable works

* ''Mendl in Japan'' (1926) - An operetta written by Lash-Sandler. * ''Papirossen'' (1936) - A short movie directed by Henry Lynn with actors

Herman Yablokoff Herman Yablokoff (August 11, 1903 – April 3, 1981, yi, הערמאַן יאַבלאָקאָף, russian: link=no, Герман Яблоков, born Chaim Yablonik, Хаим Яблоник), sometimes written Herman Yablokov, Herman Yablokow, ...

, Bella Mysell, and

Sidney Lumet Sidney Arthur Lumet ( ; June 25, 1924 – April 9, 2011) was an American film director. He was nominated five times for the Academy Award: four for Best Director for ''12 Angry Men'' (1957), ''Dog Day Afternoon'' (1975), ''Network'' (1976), ...

. * ''My Son and I'' (1960) - A musical play in English and Yiddish with book by Herman Yablokoff, music by Sholom Secunda and lyrics by Bella Mysell. * ''Those Were the Days'' (1990) - A musical by Bella Mysell.

Personal life

Mysell married

Alexander Olshanetsky Alexander Olshanetsky (1892–1946) was a Jewish-American composer, conductor, and violinist. He was a major figure within the Yiddish theatre scene in New York City from the mid-1920s until his death in 1946. Life and career Was born in Odessa ...

(1892–1946), an American composer, conductor, and violinist. Later in life, she married

(1903–1981), an American actor, singer, composer, poet, playwright, director and producer. Bella Mysell died on January 17, 1991, and was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery in New York City.

Legacy

Bella Mysell's contributions to the Yiddish theatre are well-recognized. She is remembered not just for her theatrical performances but also for her musical endeavors, such as her performance in the short film "

Papirossen "Papirosn" (, ) is a Yiddish song that was written in the 1920s. The song tells the story of a Jewish boy who sells cigarettes to survive on the streets. He depicts his tragic fate; having lost his parents, his younger sister has died on the benc ...

" in 1936. Her legacy as a significant voice in the Yiddish theatre is preserved and celebrated through various memorials and platforms.

and Bella Mysell have been honored with a star at the

Yiddish Theater Yiddish theatre consists of plays written and performed primarily by Jews in Yiddish, the language of the Central European Ashkenazi Jewish community. The range of Yiddish theatre is broad: operetta, musical comedy, and satiric or nostalgic revu ...

Walk of Fame on 2nd Avenue.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mysell, Bella 1902 births 1991 deaths 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American Jews Actresses from New York City American stage actresses Jewish American actresses Yiddish theatre performers